India’s domestic manufacturing amidst COVID-19

Written by Akhil Bery

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ahead of the 2024 general elections, the Indian government needs to focus its efforts on job creation.

Sri Lanka’s national economic crisis and its impact on foreign relations with China

Written by Rajni Gamage

Sri Lanka’s latest national economic crisis is also triggering a crisis in its foreign policy. The country’s government is compelled to diversify its foreign policy engagement in order to manage its relatively large foreign debt.

With ASEAN Snub, Myanmar junta signals return to Cold War isolationism

Written by Hunter Marston

The junta knows it needs the support of Moscow and Beijing in the UN Security Council to prevent international action such as an arms embargo, which has failed to pass given their veto powers.

Pakistan’s drift towards China: maintaining neutrality amid great power competition

Written by Namra Naseer

So far, Pakistan has not been the main arena of US-China competition. It need not become so, specifically if the country takes effective steps to improve bilateral relations with the United States and retain its autonomy in the growing ties with China.

A perfect storm of crises: Afghanistan in 2022

Written by Tim Foxley

The Taliban’s seizure of power and the sheer speed of government collapse took everyone by surprise. The international community, Afghanistan’s neighbourhood, and the Afghan population themselves are now attempting to understand and address the implications of a Taliban regime.

Disinformation and democratic backsliding: India’s Facebook problem

Written by Raju Rajagopal, Nikhil Mandalaparthy

Despite a handful of statements from Facebook and its much publicised Oversight Board, it seems unlikely that Facebook will make any significant changes with regard to India, out of fear of upsetting the Modi government.

What China’s assertive actions mean for the India-China border

Written by Rahul Bhatia

Beijing is keen to maintain its edge in border infrastructure and is in no rush to clarify the LAC, as it believes that an unsettled border will keep India limited to the region and prevent New Delhi from projecting its power globally.

Myanmar’s divided state leaves thousands of its people in the lurch

Written by Hunter Marston

Until some sort of political solution is achieved, Myanmar’s civilian population will remain torn between the current chaos of poverty and armed conflict on the one hand, and an as-yet-unrealised future built on principles of democracy and federalism towards which they are striving.

The politics of Taliban recognition

Written by Michael Kugelman

For the United States, giving Kabul access to aid — including nearly USD $10 billion in foreign reserves frozen by Washington — is hard to justify without recognising the regime.

Sri Lanka: Navigating geopolitics, regional asymmetry, and a national crisis

Written by Nilanthi Samaranayake

Outreach to address COVID-19 economic distress perpetuates the inaccurate perception that Sri Lanka is heavily indebted to China and is therefore prone to advancing Beijing’s geostrategic ambitions.

The Pakistani Taliban is reinventing itself

Written by Amira Jadoon and Abdul Sayed

The TTP leadership views the Afghan Taliban victory as a win for jihadists in general and has been emboldened by it. This is reflected in its messages directed to its members, who are encouraged to continue their fight against Pakistan for a similar victory there.

Afghanistan continues to pose a traditional and non-traditional security threat

Written by Nilofar Sakhi

As the Taliban increases its stronghold and gains more territory and power, it will become a serious transnational threat. Radicalisation, the emergence of new terrorist groups, and arms trafficking will likely increase, adding to local security threats.

Subnational diplomacy dynamics between India and Sri Lanka: A Sri Lankan perspective

Written by Bhagya Senaratne

As Tamil Nadu does not recognise their fishermen are engaged in illegal activity, the lack of a clear solution between India and Sri Lanka that reconciles with the independent state influence of Tamil Nadu will be an issue in the years to come.

Norway: India’s partner for green growth

Written by Gokul Sahni

India should continue to work with Norway on global issues of convergence across peace and security, women’s rights, climate change and the role of oceans, especially given both countries are in an agenda-setting position as temporary UNSC members until 2023.

India’s political paradox: The enduring popularity of Narendra Modi

Written by Srijan Shukla

Modi is not only changing the nature of the polity but is also ensuring that he remains central to that change. This is significant because all Hindu-revisionist cultural networks consider Modi and his presence in the central government integral to the success of their agenda.

Challenges to subnational diplomacy: The tangled roots of Punjab

Written by Hamna Tariq

A peaceful Punjab region could prevent bi-national conflicts from spilling over into the region and, as both Punjabs border the seat of governments in Delhi and Islamabad respectively, regional bonhomie is likely to influence central government attitudes.

Bhutan and India: The importance of subnational diplomacy

Written by Nitasha Kaul and Dechen Rabgyal

While the challenges are significant, the intertwined nature of regional trade, livelihood, resources, and security management means that paradiplomacy can be given much greater attention to bring local concerns to the forefront.

Bhutan’s coming border crisis with China

Written by John Pollock

Should it transpire in the coming years that Chinese villages or roads are being constructed in Sakteng, alongside those on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is conceivable that Indian mountain troops from IV Corps would intervene as at Doklam in 2017, thus placing Bhutan at the centre of a future Sino-Indian standoff.